Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death. This year, more than 5 million people will die from a tobacco-related heart attack, stroke, cancer, lung ailment or other disease. That does not include the more than 600,000 people – more than a quarter of them children – who will die from exposure to second-hand smoke. The annual death toll from the global epidemic of tobacco use could rise to 8 million by 2030. Having killed 100 million people during the 20th century, tobacco use could kill 1 billion during the 21st century. It kills more than five million people a year – an average of one person every six seconds – and accounts for one in 10 adult deaths. The tobacco epidemic kills nearly 6 million people per year.
· Only 5.4% of people are protected by comprehensive national smoke-free laws.
· In 2008, the number of people protected from second-hand smoke increased by 74% to 362 million from 208 million in 2007.
· Of the 100 most populous cities, 22 are smoke free. Almost half of children regularly breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke.
· Over 40% of children have at least one smoking parent.
· Second-hand smoke causes more than 600 000 premature deaths per year.
· In 2004, children accounted for 28% of the deaths attributable to second-hand smoke.
· There are more than 4000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, of which at least 250 are known to be harmful and more than 50 are known to cause cancer.
· In adults, second-hand smoke causes serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including coronary heart disease and lung cancer. In infants, it causes sudden death. In pregnant women, it causes low birth weight.
· In 2008, the number of people protected from second-hand smoke increased by 74% to 362 million from 208 million in 2007.
· Of the 100 most populous cities, 22 are smoke free. Almost half of children regularly breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke.
· Over 40% of children have at least one smoking parent.
· Second-hand smoke causes more than 600 000 premature deaths per year.
· In 2004, children accounted for 28% of the deaths attributable to second-hand smoke.
· There are more than 4000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, of which at least 250 are known to be harmful and more than 50 are known to cause cancer.
· In adults, second-hand smoke causes serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including coronary heart disease and lung cancer. In infants, it causes sudden death. In pregnant women, it causes low birth weight.
For more info, please check the below link:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs339/en/index.htmlSAY NO TO TOBACCO !!!
